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Funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 1 p.m. at Avant Funeral Home in Alexandria for Mr. Smith, 65, of Lebanon.

Born August 20, 1946 in DeKalb County, he died Sunday, July 15, 2012 at his residence. A veteran of the US Navy, he worked for the past 25 years in maintenance at the Tennessean. He served on the Wilson County Fair Board and the Foundation Committee of Fiddler's Grove.

Guest Column

Extreme weather conditions in June and early July have produced a record number of brush and grass fires in Wilson County.

During the month of June, Wilson County Emergency Management Agency recorded 71 grass and brush fires. To date in July, 59 brush and grass fire calls have been answered. Four of these calls were volatile and had the potential for significant loss of property and/or life.

The recent string of 130 fires culminated on Friday afternoon, July 6, with a series of three weather related blazes being reported within a 15-minute time slot. The most sever of these incidents was on a farm located on South Commerce Road. When fire units arrived on the scene, the large farm house and two out-buildings were heavily involved. The blaze quickly spread to a mobile home and 30 rolls of hay. With windy conditions, the fire aggressively spread to approximately 15 acres, then jumped South Commerce Road and consumed an additional 15 acres.

Wilson County Emergency Management, State Forestry and the Watertown Volunteer Fire Department were stretched extremely thin as the fire rapidly expanded. At this point, members of the Wilson County Sheriffs Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol stepped in and filled some badly needed gaps in the attempt to get control of an extremely dangerous situation. Law enforcement officers drove trucks, sprayed water and moved threatened firefighting equipment out of harms way while maintaining security for the fire scene.

General News

A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for breaking into two police vehicles on Monday, July 2, in the southeastern area of Wilson County.

Numerous bulletproof vests, a Glock .40 Caliber handgun and a Garmin GPS unit were taken from the vehicles.

Anyone with information concerning this crime or any other crimes should contact the Wilson County Sheriffs Department at 444-1459 or the Wilson County Crime Stoppers at 444-JAIL (444-5245). Callers will remain anonymous.

Local officials, as well as State Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson have rescinded burn bans put in place for Wilson County.

No burn ban is in effect at this time, said Wilson County Emergency Management Agency Director John Jewell.

The bans from state and local governments were lifted as a result of considerable rainfall in Wilson County over the past several days. The ban had applied to all open-air burning including leaf and woody debris and construction burning, campfires, outdoor grills and other fire activity outside of municipalities where local ordinances took precedent.

Although recently, outdoor grills were removed from the ban due to improved conditions.

Detectives with the Lebanon Police Departments Narcotics Unit executed two search warrants and seized synthetic drugs, cash and a loaded handgun from two local retailers Friday.

The search and seizures took place on Friday, July 13, at Chums located at 622 N. Cumberland Street and One Stop Market at 725 E. Main Street.

Police Chief Scott Bowen said the department had earlier purchased synthetic drugs at both locations and obtained warrants thereafter. Illegal synthetic drugs were reportedly found at both locations as well as other paraphernalia and cash.

Also, a loaded Hi Point .45 caliber handgun and ammunition were allegedly found in a safe at Chums. Bowen said they are determining if the individual had a permit for the weapon.